Bernie Sanders, 77

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0adonna. 3rince. Bernie. The Democratic socialist Irom 9ermont is a political rock star. He has widespread name recognition Ior good and bad and his passionate base will do whatever it takes to get him into the Oval Oiɿce.

$s the unlikely star oi the 20 primaries Sanders mounted a strong challenge to Hillary &linton and succeeded in opening the door to a more progressive Democratic 3arty. His eiiorts paid OII in the 20 8 midterm elections when progressives won big normalizing what were once considered Iar leit policies such as 0edicare

Ior all and a minimum wage.

Sanders is in some ways much like Donald Trump a populist who appeals to working class white voters. He’s particularly popular in the 0idwest where Democrats lost crucial ground in 20 .

But 5epublicans have spent the past two years villainizing socialists and nominating Sanders would give Trump all the encouragement he needs to resume his campaign claim that Democrats want to turn the 8.S. into 9enezuela.

$nother potential hurdle: $ number oi Sanders’s staiiers are already looking at Iresher Iaces. ţ,i a younger candidate can pick up the mantle and have Bernie’s support that would be a better option Ior 2020 Ť Daniel Deriso a ɿeld organizer Ior Sanders’s 20 campaign told 3olitico. —NG